Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had an albino chaco horned frog/pacman frog for about 6 months, maybe longer now. He's atleast doubled in size since i got him, has very nice color, and looks generally pretty healthy. That hasn't changed despite the fact that he hasn't eaten now for about 2 or 3 weeks. Usually he's a very very good eater, but then all of a sudden he just stopped. Now he doesn't seem interested in his crickets and just wants to sit in his burrow. I keep a turtle and am fairly used to having to wrestle with pets over picky eating habits. I don't know if pacman frogs are so finicky or not... he's about 2.5 inches now, in a roughly ten gallon tank, has a shallow water bowl, coconut husk substrate that's very deep, and a lamp... the only thing i can figure is that he might be too cold, temperature hovers around 75 in the tank, but the temperature has always been that way before and only now is there a loss in appetite. He hasn't lost any weight and isn't showing any signs of illness. Needless to say, i'm a little panicked because i'm very attached to the little guy and i just can't figure out what i can do for him. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Like you said maybe its the tempature. It could also be that some times frogs will take a break and stop eating. I don't know how often or what you feed him but keep in mind that during hibernation they can go several months with out food. Good luck, maybe he needs a kiss

He has a 25 watt bulb at the moment, so i'm going to take your advice and switch it for a more powerful one. I was a little reluctant to do that before because i didn't want to cook him, but i'll keep a close eye on the thermometer and be careful not to let it get too hot. The thermometer is low on the glass, right in the substrate in fact, so will he need temperatures around 80? I just feed him crickets... do you think he might be wanting a change in diet? If so, do you have any suggestions? I've been warned against meal worms, which is also keep, so i have never tried him on those.

The light idea should work but like you metioned keep an eye on the temp. Another suggestion, instead of a more powerful light, would be an undertank heater. Just make shure that it only covers about half of the tank so he can get out the heat if need be. As far as an alternative food you should try pinky mice or depending on size fuzzy mice. You can get these frozen at most pet stores. Leave them in the bag an place them in some warm water for about a half hour or so to dethaw. You might have to use some forsepts and wiggle it a bit to get him to go for it but it should work. Mice provide a good sorce of fat for frogs so because of this don't over feed your frog for obisity is a common problem amongest Horned Frogs.

Ok, thanks. I have his tank on a wooden desk right now, if i put an undertank heater underneath is that likely to damage the wood? Would you suggest a pad underneath the heating pad? I've never used a pad like that for heating, though i've looked at them for other animals, so sorry if the questions sound naive.

the heater shouldn't damage the wood but to be safe it wouldn't hurt to put something in between. Most heaters will stick to the bottom of the tank so if you put something in the corners to raise the tank off the table a little that would also help

I'll have a think about getting a heater, but since i put a new bulb in he seems happier. I put 3 crickets in last night, just to see if he'd take any, this morning there were only two. He'd also moved from his water bowl and gone and dug into the substrate abit further away. He still looks fine and healthy, so i'm begining to think it must have been the fact that it was a little cold and maybe that he had gone off crickets, i still intend to get other bugs for him to try, that caused him to not eat. Thanks for the advice.

don't feed your pacman mice...try roaches, nightcrawlers or superworms and don't forget to feed your insects a quality gutload